Methods and systems for identification of treatment targets

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems for the identification and selection of a neurostimulation target for treating neurological or psychiatric disorders in a subject using functional connectivity networks. The methods and systems may analyze the connectivity or synchrony between deeper brain regions of interest that have been divided into parcels with surface regions of the brain. The methods and systems generally reduce the computational complexity of the targeting algorithm, which in turn may result in a more reliable determination of the neurostimulation targets. Additionally, the methods and systems may personalize the target for neurostimulation, which may improve the overall efficacy of the neurostimulation treatment. Methods and systems that use a decision algorithm to calculate a weight value for a plurality of seed-circuit pairs, and determine a neurostimulation target based on the seed-circuit pair having the greatest weight value are also described herein.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for identification of a neurostimulation target for a subject, the method comprising:
 obtaining functional neuroimaging data of a brain of the subject, wherein the functional neuroimaging data describes neuronal activation of a region of interest (ROI) within the brain;   selecting at least one seed region within the brain of the subject;   pairing the at least one seed region with a plurality of brain circuits to generate a plurality of seed-circuit pairs;   applying an algorithm to the plurality of seed-circuit pairs, wherein the algorithm calculates a weight value for each of the plurality of seed-circuit pairs based on a plurality of criteria; and   determining a neurostimulation target based on the seed-circuit pair having the greatest weight value.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the functional neuroimaging data comprises data from at least one of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNTRS), ultrasound, doppler ultrasound, focused ultrasound, diffusion tensor imaging, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one region of interest is selected from the group consisting of the subgenual cingulate cortex, anterior insula, nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one region of interest comprises the subgenual cingulate cortex. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein at least five regions of interest are selected. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of brain circuits is associated with a brain network. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the brain network is a canonical network or a data-driven network. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the canonical network comprises a dorsal attention network, a ventral attention network, a frontoparietal network, a cognitive control network, or a default mode network. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of brain circuits comprises a depression circuit. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of brain circuits comprises at least five brain circuits. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the seed-circuit pair comprises a dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and a depression circuit. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of seed-circuit pairs comprises at least 25 seed-circuit pairs. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of criteria comprises a measurement of connectivity between the at least one seed region and each of the plurality of brain circuits of the plurality of seed-circuit pairs, a confidence value, one or more clinical features, a reliability value, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more clinical features comprises a duration of depression, severity of depression, family history of a depressive disorder, history of substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising delivering neurostimulation to the neurostimulation target. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the neurostimulation is used to treat a psychiatric disorder selected from the group consisting of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the neurostimulation is used to treat a neurological disorder selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, migraine headache, cluster headache, chronic pain, consequences of stroke, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         48 . A system for identifying a neurostimulation target for a subject, the system comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive data comprising functional neuroimaging data of a brain of the subject, wherein the functional neuroimaging data describes neuronal activation of a region of interest (ROI) within the brain;   a memory storing a set of instructions;   one or more processors that are configured to, responsive to the set of instructions:
 select at least one seed region within the brain of the subject; 
 pair the at least one seed region with a plurality of brain circuits to generate a plurality of seed-circuit pairs; 
 apply an algorithm to the plurality of seed-circuit pairs, wherein the algorithm calculates a weight value for each of the plurality of seed-circuit pairs based on a plurality of criteria; and 
 determine a neurostimulation target based on the seed-circuit pair having the greatest weight value. 
   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the functional neuroimaging data comprises data from at least one of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNTRS), ultrasound, doppler ultrasound, focused ultrasound, diffusion tensor imaging, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the at least one region of interest is selected from the group consisting of the subgenual cingulate cortex, anterior insula, nucleus accumbens, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 - 64 . (canceled)